How to check Blood Pressure

                Mercury Sphygmomanometer                                  Pneumatic (air) Sphygmomanometer

Sphygmomanometer 

• A device for measuring the blood pressure. It consists of an arm or leg cuff with an air bag attached to a tube and a bulb for pumping air into the bag, and a gauge for showing the amount of air pressure being pressed against the artery. 

Steps in checking blood pressure

                   Stethoscope                        Bell,& Diaphragm of Stethoscope                      Bulb & Screw

           Feel Pulse in front of elbow                Tie cuff 1 inch above elbow,                      Tighten screw              

                                                                  place diaphragm or bell over pulse

                          Press bulb to raise pressure in cuff, then slowly release pressure by loosening screw   

      Systolic pressure is when first sound heard                                                   Diastolic pressure is when sound disappears

    Method of measuring Blood Pressure

• The blood pressure is most often measured by using a device called a sphygmomanometer, a stethoscope, and a blood pressure cuff. 

• The cuff is placed around the upper arm and filled with air, tightening to stop the blood from flowing through the artery in the arm. 

• The stethoscope is placed over the artery in front of the elbow and the pressure in the cuff is slowly released. No sound is heard until the cuff pressure falls below the systolic pressure in the artery; at that point a pulse is heard. As the cuff pressure continues to fall slowly, the pulse continues; first becoming louder, then dull and muffled. 

• These sounds, called the sounds of Korotkoff, are caused by the disturbance of the blood flowing through the vessel. 

• The cuff pressure at which the first sound is heard is the systolic blood pressure, and the cuff pressure at which the sounds stop is the diastolic blood pressure. The pressure in both arms is sometimes taken. A major difference between the two readings may mean there is a blockage of the vessels. 

• The blood pressure may also be taken using the thigh with the stethoscope held behind the knee. A larger cuff is used when taking the blood pressure of an overweight person or when using on the thigh. 

• Any factor that increases resistance of the vessels to the flow of blood or that affects the amount of blood pumped by the heart will change the blood pressure. Strong emotion, for example, tends to do both; therefore the blood pressure reading is usually taken when the person is resting. 

• Blood pressure increases with age, mainly because the veins do not expand as well. As a person grows older an increase in systolic pressure comes before an increase in diastolic pressure.

 Advantages of learning to check Blood Pressure

• Early detection of high blood pressure at home, during routine check up.

• Close monitoring of blood pressure possible of patient at home, saving time, money and exertion.

• Doctor can be informed in time in case of increasing blood pressure, preventing further complications.

• Blood pressure checked at home may be more reliable, than being checked by inexperienced compounder and nurse.

• Blood pressure checked at home may give more accurate picture, as anxiety is more in medical consultation room.

REMEMBER ! IF YOU KNOW HOW TO MEASURE BLOOD PRESSURE, YOU CAN SAVE A PRECIOUS LIFE